Bengaluru : There is no question of the division of the State, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was speaking at the 59th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations here on Saturday.

“We should not pay any heed to people who are demanding separate Statehood. Why did they not do anything for the development of the region when in power? Now that they are not in power, they are demanding the division of the State,” he alleged, in an oblique reference to statements by former Minister and BJP MLA Umesh Katti demanding separate Statehood.

Stating that he would not allow the division of Karnataka at any cost, he said the State that was unified with the struggle and sacrifice of many people would remain so. The government, he said, was committed to the overall development of the State, especially Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

He also said that the government was committed to the implementation of the recommendations of the Nanjundappa Committee on regional disparity. With the special status accorded under Article 371J, regional imbalances could be set right.